(#13) Thunderbirds Host Glendale in ACCAC Semifinal Wednesday
Tuesday, March 1, 2022 - 9:35 pm | Derek Diesner
MESA, AZ - The 13th ranked Mesa Thunderbirds (20-7 overall, 15-5 ACCAC) return to Theo Heap Gymnasium on Wednesday evening to host the Glendale Gauchos (7-23 overall, 5-15 ACCAC) in an ACCAC DII Women's Basketball semifinal at 7 pm.
The Thunderbirds faced the Gauchos twice this past season, coming out victorious in each contest.
January 8 recap
Mesa took an early 7-2 lead just two and a half minutes into the contest. MCC would outscore GCC 20-16 in the first quarter.
Glendale's defense came to play in the second quarter, as they limited the Thunderbirds to just 13 points. Glendale would eventually take a one-point lead into the halftime break.
In the second half, the Thunderbirds took the lead early and would never look back. Mesa responded in the third quarter by rattling off 19 points, all while holding Glendale to just seven points.
The T-Birds kept going strong in the fourth quarter, striking for 20 points on their way to the 72-57 victory. Both teams got in foul trouble early in the fourth quarter and Glendale came eerily close to having to finish the game with only four players on the court.
In the win, Mesa shot 44% from the field and 47% from beyond the three-point arc. Both Jayla Johnson and Stacey Begay both finished with season highs in scoring. Johnson finished with a team-high 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field, while Begay chipped in with a season-best 20 points and a team-high 15 rebounds.
February 16 recap
Mesa jumped on the scoreboard first just a minute into the game. Jayla Johnson hit a two-point jumper following a Love Troupe steal to give the T-Birds an early 2-0 lead. Just seconds later, the Gauchos raced down the floor and Clarissa Lopez hit a three-pointer; one of the seven made all evening by Glendale, to give the Gauchos the 3-2 lead. That was the only lead Glendale would have all evening. After one-quarter of play, Mesa led 21-10 and never looked back.
Mesa had one of their better offensive evenings of the season, shooting 52% from the floor, 42% from beyond the three-point arc, and they only missed one free-throw all night. Every player that got in for the Thunderbirds scored at least one point.
Wednesday's game will be live-streamed on https://mesatbirdsports.com/live, with Peyton Thomas on the call with the play-by-play.
The winner of Wednesday's semifinal will face the winner of #3 Scottsdale/ #2 Pima on Saturday at 7 pm at the highest remaining seed in the ACCAC DII Women's Basketball Championship Game.
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